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John Paul Funes reports to Indiana prison Monday

4 years 3 months 3 weeks ago Monday, December 02 2019 Dec 2, 2019 December 02, 2019 9:47 AM December 02, 2019 in News
Source: WBRZ

BATON ROUGE - After  John Paul Funes, once acting as Our Lady of the Lake Foundation's chief fundraiser, was sentenced to 33 months in Federal prison following his conviction for wire fraud and money laundering, he'll surrender to federal prison guards Monday.

Funes will serve time at the federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana.  Here is more information on the prison.

Terre Haute is about 70 miles southwest of Indianapolis and about 700 miles - or 11 hours - from Baton Rouge.

There are just more than 1,300 inmates at the complex which includes a medium security prison and an adjacent minimum security satellite camp.

This handbook explains inmate life on page 4, reporting: "Each inmate is responsible for making his bed in accordance with posted regulations before work call (including weekends and holidays). Each inmate is also responsible for sweeping and mopping his cell floor, removing trash and ensuring the cell is clean and sanitary. Cardboard boxes and other paper containers are not permitted for storage due to their combustible nature. Lockers must be neatly arranged inside and out and all shelving must be neat and clean. Chairs are assigned to each cell and will not be defaced or marked in any manner by the inmate. Toothpaste, toothbrushes, combs, razors and soap for personal hygiene are issued by the institution for indigent inmates. Inmates may purchase name brand items through the Commissary."

When sentenced by Judge John W. deGravelles, Funes presented a cashiers check for $796, 309.

In addition to 33 months behind bars, Funes will be required to serve two years of supervised release and pay an additional fine of $50,000.

According to admissions made during his plea, Funes executed a scheme to defraud the non-profit known as Our Lady of the Lake Foundation, and during Thursday's sentencing hearing, the Court determined that Funes's criminal activities caused a specific loss of $796,309.

Bryan A. Vorndran of FBI New Orleans, one of the agencies directing the investigation into the fraudulent scheme, made the following statement regarding the Funes sentencing, “John Paul Funes betrayed Our Lady of the Lake Foundation, its donors, and the Baton Rouge community by embezzling funds that were intended to benefit the area's sick and injured children. The FBI New Orleans Field Office, along with the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division and U.S. Secret Service, will continue to vigorously investigate and hold those accountable who illegally profit at the expense of our community's institutions.”

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